Not a drive by - you will need to do a walk across the fields or along the coast to get here. Your reward is a marvellous wood, managed by the Woodland Trust; a broad panorama over the estuary with attendant birds; and a craggy knoll, which has a great grassy ledge, perfect for a picnic if the weather is fine. Birkswood Point reaches the heady heights of 10m above datum so pack the oxygen bottles!
Parking: You can park at various places, but the nearer the cache, the smaller they become.
- You could park at Gilpin Bridge and follow the Coastal Path all the way down Foulshaw, 6km. Sheep graze the foreshore.
- Closer, are several options near the Derby Arms, where the Witherslack-Ulpha road crosses the A590, 3.5km.
- Closer, is at the bend by Highstock Bridge, half way down the Ulpha road, 2.5km, room for a couple of cars.
- Closest, is room for one car on the grass, SE corner at the entrance to Ulpha farm, 2km. Don't block the entrance as big machines and tankers go in and out.
Apart from the Gilpin Bridge option, walk down the Ulpha-Meathop lane to pick up the Coastal Way footpath, heading SE to Crag Wood. There is no room to park at the end of the footpath except bikes.
Directions: From Ulpha-Meathop lane, follow the Coastal Way footpath SE along the old embankment by the small stream. Watch for livestock. Near the wood the path goes over a stile onto a surprising bridge over the Main Drain. Through a small gate into a narrow field, you can go left, right or straight ahead here. Best option, straight ahead through a big gate into Crag Wood; through the lovely wood to a bench by the shore. Turn left and follow the path to the NE end of the wood and a stile onto the foreshore. Around the 'bay' to Birkswood Point.
If you go right, you can go down to the south end of the wood, past the derelict boat, and reach the shore. A stile leads into the wood. Follow the path, past the bench, all the way along to the NE end and the foreshore.
The Cache: The box is best approached from below, standing on the big grassy ledge. To reach the grassy ledge, go through the gate, retie well please! You will need to step up onto the rock to reach the cache. It's a small L&L. Please re-hide well.
Great views across to Arnside and Sandside; embankment Amble is just 1.4km away! The 'sand' is a rather squidgy here, so if you want to venture onto it, wellies are needed and care for quicksands. Hope you enjoy your visit.